Item: Used Renault Zoe 2013-present
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

The original&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/leaf/hatchback/used-review/n823">Nissan Leaf</a> is the most obvious, if you're looking at the cheaper end of the market, despite it being slightly larger. Battery options were 24kWh and 30kWh, the former offering a theoretical maximum of 124 miles and the&nbsp;larger&nbsp;155 miles. It’s also easy to live with and comfortable to drive, and it's now looking relatively good value on the used market. Check out the second-generation car too, if you've got more money to spend.&nbsp;

One premium alternative to think about buying used is the Mk7 version of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/e-golf/hatchback/used-review/n17990">Volkswagen e-Golf</a>. This officially has a&nbsp;range of 186 miles, but Volkswagen&nbsp;admits that’ll drop to around 125 miles in the real world. The e-Golf will&nbsp;take 13 hours for a full charge from a three-pin plug&nbsp;or four hours from a dedicated quick charger. It’s great to drive, too, but it is pricey.

So is the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/i3/hatchback/used-review/n874">BMW i3</a>. It is undoubtedly very luxurious, though. It uses state-of-the-art production techniques to offset its weight and offers a range of around 124 miles. You can even look out for a range-extender option that incorporates a tiny petrol engine to prevent the battery&nbsp;from going flat.

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/model/hatchback/used-review/n18179">Kia Soul EV</a> is a funky-looking small SUV that combines an instant hit of torque from its electric motor with the ability to cruise happily at 70mph. However, its realistic range is very short, at around 70 miles, and it’s not the most comfortable car, especially on a bumpy road.

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/e/hatchback/used-review/n22807">Honda E </a>is a smart and highly desirable small electric car with a cute face and an upmarket interior. It's expensive, though, and its range is nowhere near as competitive as some of its rivals, at around 136&nbsp;miles.&nbsp;

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the <a href="http://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">What Car? Newsletter here</a>

<h2><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/renault/zoe">Find a used Renault Zoe&nbsp;with What Car? &gt;&gt;</a></h2>

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What is it like?

Ownership cost

Advice for buyers

Our recommendations

Alternatives

<h3>Brake efficiency may be reduced</h3>

There was an issue with the front wheel arch liners on some cars where it would&nbsp;rub against the front brake hoses and, in rare circumstances, cause a leak. If the brake fluid level gets too low, it'll reduce brake efficiency, but you should get&nbsp;a&nbsp;low brake fluid level&nbsp;warning lamp&nbsp;to alert&nbsp;you of this before it gets to that stage.&nbsp;Check with a Renault dealer to make sure the appropriate remedial work has been carried out.&nbsp;

<h3>Incorrect accelerator pedal fitted</h3>

A small number of Zoes built between 12 July 2017 and 18 October 2017&nbsp;may have been fitted with the wrong accelerator pedal, which could cause discomfort or, in extreme circumstances,&nbsp;get stuck under the floor mat. Find out from your Renault dealer whether or not it has been replaced.

<h3>Gearbox might not&nbsp;hold the car in park</h3>

The pin for the park lever inside the gearbox could brake on some Zoes, allowing the car to roll away. This&nbsp;could be a particular problem if you only leave it in park and don't apply the handbrake or don't set the handbrake&nbsp;correctly. There have been two separate recalls for this, but it mostly affects models made between 1 July 2015 and 26 April 2017, so find out from your local Renault dealer whether on not this work has been carried out.

<h3>Dashboard reflection&nbsp;in the windscreen</h3>

Some owners of early Zoes that had a light-coloured dashboard found that it reflected badly in the windscreen. Renault agreed to retrofit an alternative piece in a darker shade to solve this problem.&nbsp;

In our most recent Reliability Survey, Renault ranked 30th out of 31 manufacturers, which isn't very good.&nbsp;

From new, Renault offered a&nbsp;three-year/100,000-miles warranty on the Zoe and an additional&nbsp;four-year/100,000-mile warranty on the motor and battery pack, plus a fourth year of UK-only assistance,&nbsp;if you bought the battery rather than leased it.

If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2020-what-car-reliability-survey/n20042">What Car? Reliability Survey</a> pages for more information.

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Hatchback

Hatchbacks, SUVs, fast cars, electric cars: Renault makes them all, in a variety of shapes and sizes, so it has a line-up designed to tempt pretty much everyone.

From the roadside, the standout feature of them all is the design, with its cars now having a distinctive look that has won the firm a legion of fans for its flair and charm.

To drive and to own, the line-up is typically decent rather than outstanding. Best of the cars when they are rated against rivals are the Kadjar SUV, the fast RS models and the electric Zoe.

With new and used pricing also keen – and Target Price discounts through our New Car Buying marketplace usually more generous than most – there is the opportunity to negotiate an appealing price.

RENAULT

The Renault Zoe is one of the most popular&nbsp;used electric cars, with low running costs and a decent&nbsp;range

Used Renault Zoe 2013-present

<h3>Charging</h3>

Although charging&nbsp;the Zoe obviously incurs a cost, it's&nbsp;much cheaper than filling a tank with petrol or diesel. The latest figures suggest a full charge should cost about £3 in electricity.

Earlier Zoes with the 22kWh battery have a claimed maximum range of 130 miles, while&nbsp;post-2015 cars with the 41kWh battery up that to 250 miles. Renault admits that 174 miles is more realistic, with this dropping to 112 in the winter. The Quick Charge version of the Zoe (Q90) has a slightly shorter maximum range of 230&nbsp;miles, and there’s an entry-level version called Expression with a smaller battery that has a maximum of just 149 miles.&nbsp;The R110 came with an official WLTP range of 186 miles.

Charging takes between seven and nine hours from empty if you plug into your 7kW charger at home or two hours and 40 mins from a 22kW public charging point. Alternatively, the Quick Charge version can be topped up to 80% from empty in just over an hour from a high-powered rapid charger, with the Expression model being even quicker to charge due to its smaller battery.

On post-2020 cars,&nbsp;the official figures suggest the Zoe is capable of between 238 and 245 miles on a full charge (it varies slightly depending on which motor and trim level you go for), even Renault acknowledges that these numbers are very optimistic and quotes its own ‘real-world’ ranges accordingly. It reckons 233 miles should be possible in the summer, falling to 150 miles in winter conditions. This sounds pretty accurate to us; in our own independent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-car-real-range-which-electric-car-can-go-farthest-in-the-real-world/n18159">Real Range tests</a>, which are always carried out in temperatures between 10deg and 15deg C, the Zoe managed 192 miles on a full charge.

<h3>Servicing</h3>

Since the Zoe is&nbsp;a zero-emissions car, it's exempt from road&nbsp;tax costs, and because there's no oil to change, you'll find that servicing is noticeably cheaper than it is for a petrol or diesel car.&nbsp;However, it's still worth looking at multiple Renault dealerships, because prices can vary significantly depending upon where you are in the country. One London dealership put the cost of a&nbsp;12-month/18,000-mile check-up at £132, whereas one in Yorkshire quoted the same work at just £69.

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The Renault Zoe is one of the most popular used electric cars, with low running costs and a decent range


Prices for early cars start at around&nbsp;£5500, to which you’d have to add the cost of the battery lease for most of them. Prices are buoyant and have enjoyed a recent boost, due to the demand for good, cheap used electric cars.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Up the budget to £7000 and you’ll find plenty of good, clean 2016&nbsp;models, while £10,000 to £12,000 is about the starting point for&nbsp;2017 cars, or think around £13,000 to £15,000 for cars&nbsp;with the newer, larger battery pack.

Zoes with the batteries included, rather than leased, attract a small premium at all ages. Expect to pay around £13,500 for a good 2018 or 2019 car, and up t0 £20,000 for a post-facelift 2020 model.

Check the value of a used Renault Zoe&nbsp;with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/valuations/">What Car? Valuations</a>.

<h3>Battery pack size</h3>

If you can afford to buy a post-2015 Zoe&nbsp;with the longer-range 41kWh battery, we would recommend it.

<h3>Trims</h3>

All trims are well equipped, although we would recommend going for Dynamique Nav, because this gets not only more luxuries but also a longer range. Top-spec Signature Nav looks a bit&nbsp;pricey.

Our favourite Renault Zoe:&nbsp;R110 ZE40 Dynamique Nav&nbsp;

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Sufficient range between charges to fit in with most people’s lifestyles – and in the real world, not on some far-fetched official test </li> <li>Quick charging times and compatibility with the most ubiquitous types of public charging points </li> <li>Priced to be within the grasp of more than just the privileged few </li> <li>As with any car, ride comfort, practicality and ownership costs can’t be ignored</li></ul>

We define an electric car as one that runs purely on battery power and has no tailpipe to puff out nasty chemicals. These cars qualify for the maximum plug-in car grant (PICG) of £3500.

The Renault Zoe is one of the most affordable options and has a surprisingly long range of between 120 and 180 miles (depending on the weather and the road type). However, the Nissan Leaf and Volkswagen e-Golf are more practical and more accomplished to drive, even if the latter doesn't have a particularly long range between charges.

At the other end of the scale, Tesla’s ground-up EV philosophy – and the American brand’s own network of super-fast chargers – makes the Model S a tempting choice. It has seating for up to seven, an classy interior and a long enough real-world range to make inter-city travel a real possibility.

Electric

Despite its lack of an internal combustion engine and all its associated paraphernalia, the Zoe still has a number of things that can cause problems.

Check bodywork for minor scuffs and damage, because this is a car meant for the city. Also, there’s no spare tyre,&nbsp;just a can of sealant and a compressor, the latter with a use-by date.

It’s worth noting, too, that Renault has said that you’re not supposed to change a wheel yourself in case the battery (which sits under the car) gets damaged when you jack it up.

It’s also worth finding out if the previous owner had bought a regular 13-amp charging cable for use in a three-pin plug socket, as Renault didn’t supply these from new. The Zoe can be charged this way, so this is useful to have, even if it is woefully slow. Renault provided&nbsp;a Chargemaster wallbox in the owner’s home from new for the Zoe’s regular charging.

A lot of used Zoes will come with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/car-leasing/deals/business/renault/zoe/">battery leasing option</a>, the cost of which varies depending on the sort of mileage you do and how long you want the contract to last. The lease scheme was dropped for the new model in 2020, and Renault will allow you to buy the battery of existing cars&nbsp;outright for a one-off fee. This depends upon how old the battery pack is, rather than the car, so check that a replacement hasn't already been carried out if you do wish to buy out the lease.&nbsp;

There are many who want a piece of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/electric">electric car</a> pie but won't commit because of the costs involved and fears over battery life and range. The Renault Zoe tried to dispel some of these worries&nbsp;at its 2013 launch&nbsp;by being reasonably priced and offering&nbsp;the option of leasing the battery rather than buying it outright. And it was a stratergy that worked, because the popularity of the Zoe means there are plenty of used examples to choose from.&nbsp;

Early&nbsp;models&nbsp;with the standard 22kWh battery and 88bhp motor have the shortest range but are significantly cheaper to buy, while&nbsp;post-2017 examples can be had&nbsp;with the uprated 40kWh battery.&nbsp;The Zoe is available in its later (post-2017) form&nbsp;with either&nbsp;88bhp Q90, 92bhp R90&nbsp;or&nbsp;107bhp R110 electric motor.

A major facelift in 2020 resulted in the Zoe coming with either a 107bhp or a 134bhp electric motor. The former is called the R110 and the latter the R135.

There are three trim levels: Expression Nav, Dynamique Nav and Signature Nav. The entry-level models get 15in steel wheels, cruise control, climate control and&nbsp;a 7.0in touchscreen infotainment system with&nbsp;sat-nav.&nbsp;Upgrade to Dynamique Nav and you'll get&nbsp;16in alloy wheels, automatic lights and wipers, keyless entry and start, a DAB radio, and rear parking sensors. Signature Nav adds&nbsp;numerous bronze accents, electronically folding door mirrors, a rear-view camera, heated front seats and a Bose sound system.

To drive, the Zoe is&nbsp;nippy and smooth. For starters, there's the uninterrupted stream of power, and this&nbsp;is what makes the Zoe relaxing and surprisingly&nbsp;enjoyable to drive around town. Above 40mph, the Q90's acceleration quickly starts to tail off, though;&nbsp;the R110 will get you up to 70mph noticeably more swiftly.&nbsp;Mind you, the Zoe's grabby brakes&nbsp;frustrate by making&nbsp;it difficult to slow smoothly – the payoff&nbsp;for topping up the battery with&nbsp;recovered energy that would otherwise be&nbsp;wasted&nbsp;during braking.

For the post-2020 models, you don't notice a massive difference in acceleration at town speeds, but the R135 will get you up to motorway speeds much more swiftly (0-62mph takes 9.5sec, compared to 11.4 in the R110).&nbsp;

Ride comfort is okay at low speeds:&nbsp;broken surfaces are absorbed effectively, with little suspension thump. However, the Zoe is less composed on faster roads, where ruts and potholes unsettle it a little too easily.&nbsp;It turns in to corners keenly enough, though, helped by its light and precise steering, and there's plenty of grip. With soft suspension, it tends to lean through&nbsp;corners, though.&nbsp;

Inside, the Zoe is bright and modern&nbsp;and proves itself to be a very usable urban runabout.&nbsp; You sit a bit higher than the small hatchback norm and there’s no base height adjustment on the driver's seat. You get a decent range of adjustment for the steering wheel, though, as well as competitive head room and leg room and decent cushioning under your backside.

Fortunately, part of the battery pack is arranged below the rear seats, so boot space is rather good for this size of car, and there's a dedicated space to stow the charging cable so it doesn't have to take up precious cargo room.

If you're interested in finding a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/renault/zoe">used Zoe</a>, or any of the other electric vehicle, head over to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Car Buying</a>&nbsp;pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at great prices.

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Used Renault Zoe 2013-present review

Our recommendations

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Battery pack size